Track stripping machine



April 3, 195i D. M. PRAY'roR :TAL TRACK STRIPPING- MACHINE.

Filed Nov. 1e, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l A @s NQ April 3, 1951 D. M. PRAYToR E TAL TRAcx STRIPPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 16, 1945 April 3 1951 D. M. Plaww'rolal :TAL 2,547,596

TRACK STRIPPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 16, 1945 QN Y, w

D60/71's M D. M. PRAYTOR ET AL TRACK STRVIPPING MACHINE April 3, 1951 4. Shouts-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. 1G, 1945 ww www mb INVENTOR ,m w m; ,W W M 0x 0a MM@ w Patented Apr. 3, 1951 UNITED" STATES PATENT' omer i 2,547,596 y Y TRACK STRIPPING MACHINE Dennis M. Praytor and Knox Kershaw, Birmingham, Ala.

Application November 16, 1945, Serial No. 629,180

9 Claims.

Thislinvention relates to a machine for removclude a power driven auger adapted to be re- "eiprocated from one side of the track inthe Space between the ties, and means to mount the, auger whereby it may be raised out of the way when the machine is being moved from place to place.

A- further object of our invention is the provision of apparatus for removing ballast which `shall embody a power operated auger adapted to, be entered between the cross ties of a railway track and be reciprocated to remove the ballast therefrom.

A s is well known in the art to which our inven-v tiovfrelates the rock and ballast which is tamped around railroad ties is very diicult to remove manually especially after it has been in place ,for a sufficient time to settle and become packed idownfby trame. This renders the manual remova of old cross ties a very laborious and expensive operation. In order to overcome this difficulty, we have provided a machine-which is preferably self propelled` and whichl embodies a operated reciprocable auger adapted to be d from the ends between the cross ties to the ballast therefrom. The .auger is ed in a frame pivoted to one side of the machinevwhereby it may be raised out ofthe way and moved from place to place with the machine. Other important features of our invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which is a plan View of the apparatus omitting showing of the superstructure for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation with certain parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation; f Fig. 4 is a sectional viewtaken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 2; Y f

' Fig. 5 is a plan view of the frame of the apparatus with the power driving unit removed;

Fig. 6 is a, sectional view'taken-along the line VI-Vl of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the reversing mechanism for the auger; and

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the differential gear employed for selectively driving the auger or propelling the vehicle.

Referring now to the drawings for a .better understanding of our invention, our improved apparatus embodiesa main frame having longitudinal members I6 and |I, joined together by transverse members l2, a plurality of which may be employed. Mounted under the main frame in suitable bearings |3 and I4 are a pair of supporting wheels I6 and` |1. A pair of driving wheels I8 and I9 are mounted under the frame at the opposite end thereof in suitable bearings 2| and' 22. The apparatus is adapted to run on the usual railroad rails 23, and 24, mounted on cross ties ,26, from between which Ythe machine is designed to remove the rock and ballast.

At 21 and 28 we show longitudinally extending` foundation beams which are mounted on the Fmain frame over the transverse members I2.

Mounted on the foundation beams just described is a power unit 29 which,in the example shown,

is an internal combustion engine. Connected to the power unit 29 through a clutch 3| is the usual three-speed and reverse Y transmission 32 employed in motor vehicles and having the usual gear shift lever 33. The power shaft is shown at 34, mounted in suitable bearings 36 and 31. Adjacent the transmission unit 32 is a V belt pulley 39, mounted on the power shaft 34. At 4| we show a second clutch and `at 42 a second threespeed and reverse transmission similar to the transmission 32 from which power is transmitted through a shaft 35. The clutch 3| is controlled by a lever 43 and the clutch 4| is controlled by a lever 4d. It will be seen that, by the means shown, the drive'shaft 34 may be driven at a; variety of speeds and that further variation in drive may be accomplished through the drive shaft 35.

At 46 we show aV second V belt drive pulley, mounted on the shaft 35. The pulley d6 drives a propeller shaft 41 through a pulley 48 and V belt 49. The propeller shaft 41 is mounted in bearings 5| and 52. On the end of the .propeller shaft i1 is a bevelled gear 53 that meshes with a bevel gear 54 on the conventional differential gear case 56. On the inside of the gear. case 56 are the usual bevel gears 51 mounted on studs 58 that hold them in the gear case. yThe gears 51, in turn, mesh with bevelled gears 5S and 6| mounted on the ends of counter shafts 62 and 63, respectively. As isl well understood, when both gears 59 and 6| meet with the same resistance, the small bevelled gears -51 do not turn on their bearings; but if one of the gears 59 or 6| is held against turning, power is transmitted from the bevelled gear 53 through the gear 54 and small gears 51 to the other gear 59 or 6|, as the case may be, causing it to turn. At 64 and 66 we show conventional brakes adapted to hold the shafts 62 and 63 against turning. When the shaft 63 is held against turning by the brake 66, the shaft 62 is turned to lpropel the apparatus along the track through a sprocket wheel 61, sprocket chain 63, and sprocket 69 mounted on the axle 15 of the wheels I8 and I9. The brakes 64 and 66 may be selectively operated by means of levers 1I and 12 as shown in Fig. 2. When the shaft 62 isheld against turning by the brake 64, the shaft 63 will turn. A gear 9| on the end of the shaft 63 serves to drive the stripping auger in a manner to be described later.

The stripping mechanism comprises an auger` frame having side channel members 16 and 11 joined together at the ends by end members 13 and 1.9.. The frame is, hinged to the longitudinal frame member |I by means of hinges 8| and 82 and is further stayed with. respect to the main frame by means of a diagonal brace 83. pivoted to the main frame at 84 and to the longitudinal member 16 at 85.

Extending longitudinally of the auger Vframe is a drive shaft 36 which is rectangular in cross section and is mounted atA the ends of the frame in bearings 81 and 88. Adjacent the main longitudinal frame member the shaft 06 is pravided with a gear 89, which, when. the auger frame is in vthe horizontal position shown in Figs. l and 2 is in mesh with 'the gear .9| mounted on the end ofthe counter shaft 63. The Vouter end of the shaft 86 car-ries a gear sprocket '92 which is slidingly mounted on the shaft.

At 93 we show an auger, mounted on a Vslfiart 94 which, at its outer end, is supported by a carriage comprised of frame members '95 Vand S6 and transverse frame member 91, supported by wheelsr 98 on one side and 99 on the other, which run on tracks formed by plates I'I and |02 welded to the lower flanges of the frame members 16 and 11. As vshown in Figs. 4 and 6 of the drawings, we provide angle members|03 and |04, which are welded to the side frame members 16 and 11, above the carriage wheels, to prevent'them being raised up in theirl travel. As may be seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the shaft 86 extends through the auger carriage and transverse members |06 and |01 of the carriage are disposed on opposite sides of the sprocket 92 whereby as the carriage moves in itsI fra-me it moves the sprocket 92 on the shaft 86. On the outer end of the shaft 94 is a sprocket |09, which is connected with the sprocket 92 by a chain |I0. At |09 we show a guide for supporting the inner, or free end of the auger 93, which is lcomposed of hoops ||5, supported in stirrups III carried by a frame '||'2, similar to the supporting frame of the outer end of the auger and which is mounted on wheels II'3 on one side and ||4 on the other, which bear on the tracks IUI and |02. The guide |99 is free to move with the auger in entering the space between the ties and may be held manually in a suitable position, or by engagement with the ground.

The auger 93 may be reciprocated by the mechanism now to be described. A V belt ||6 on the pulley 39 drives a shaft ||1 having a pulley ||8 mounted thereon. A gear I|9 on the end of the shaft v|I1 meshes with a gear |2| mounted on a clutch shaft |22. See Fig. '1. The

4 shaft |22 has gears |23 and |24 mounted to turn thereon and which are controlled by means of clutches |26 and |21 turning with the shaft and operated by means of a clutch lever |28. At |29 we show a counter shaft mounted in suitable bearings and having gears |3| and |32 mounted thereon. The gear |32 meshes at all times with the gear |24 and the gear I3! meshes with an idler gear |33 carried by a stub shaft |34 mounted in the side frame member |36. The idler gear |33 meshes at all times with the gear |23, whereby when the clutch |21 is engaged to drive the gear |24, the shaft |29 is driven in one direction through the gear |32 and when the clutch |26 is engaged to drive the gear |23 the shaft |29 is driven in the opposite direction through the idler gear |33 and the gear |3I. Mounted on the shaft |29 are drums |31 and |38 on which are reversely wound cables |39 and I4I. The cables |39 and |4| pass down-- wardly around a sheave |42 and thence over a sheave |43, mounted on the frame adjacent the hinges 8| and 82. From the sheave |43 the cable |39 extends outwardly to the end of the auger frame over a sheave |44 and thence downwardly to be joined at |46 to the outer end of the auger carriage frame. The cable I4| passes downwardly from the sheave |43 under a sheave |41 and thence outwardly and is joined at |48 to the inner end of the auger carriage. It will be seen that by the means shown, when the shaft I2.9

with its drums |31 and |33, is rotated in one direction, the carriage with its auger 93 will be pulled outwardly and that when the shaft |29' is rotated in the opposite direction, the carriage with the auger 93 will be pulled inwardly.

' The auger frame and carriage as hereinbefore' described are supported in a horizontal direction and may be raised when required to a vertical position, by means of a cable |51, secured at |52 to the top of an A frame |53, mounted on the longitudinally extending frame members I0 and as shown in Fig. 2. The A frame- |53 is joined at the top to a similar A frame |54,

secured to the side frame members at the otherv The A frame |54, as-shown in end of the vehicle. Figs. l and 3, inclines downwardly from the-top, where it is joined to the A frame |53, to the opposite end of the main frame, thereby formiing a verysturdy support. The cable |5|- passes around a sheave |56-v mounted in a yoke |51 se cured to the auger frame at |58 and thence passes upwardly over a sheave |59 mounted toward the upper end of the A frame |53 and thence downwardly over a windlass |6I which may Vbe manually operated as by means of a crank |62.

Fromk the foregoing description, the operation of our improved apparatus will be readily undei'-,

stood. Whenever it is desired to move the machine from place to place, the brake 66 is applied to hold the counter shaft 63 against turning,

whereupon the machine is driven through the' sprocket chain- 68, sprockets 61 and' 69, and

through the driving wheels I8 and I9. The change speed transmissions 32 and 42 provide means whereby the speed and power applied to the shaft 62 may be varied. When on location, the apparatus is positioned so that the auger 93 is directed between ties where the ballast is to be removed', as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The auger frame is let down to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 2, and the shaft 62 is held against turning by means of the brake 64 and the brake 66 is released. The power and speed' applied to to wind up the cable 539 and let off on the cable IM thereby pulling the auger outward. The ap paratus is then positioned to locate "the auger between another pair of ties and the auger is pulled inwardly by rotating the shaft H29 in the proper direction to wind on the cable HH and let off on the cable 39.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that we have devised an improved apparatus for ren moving ballast from between the cross ties of a railway track which is simple of design, economical of operation, and one which obviates the necessity of a great deal of heavy manual labor.

While we have shown our invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and we desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for removing ballast from betweenj railroad ties comprising a railroad vehicle, a power driven auger pivotally mounted on the side of the vehicle, means for reciprocably supporting the pivoted auger in working position, and means to reciprocate the auger between the ties to remove the ballast therefrom.

2. Apparatus for removing ballastJ from between railroad ties comprising a railroad vehicle,

a power driven auger pivotally mounted on the side of the vehicle, means for reciprocably supporting the pivoted auger in working position, means to reciprocate the auger between the ties to remove the ballast therefrom, and selective power transmission means for driving the vehicle.

3. A machine for removing ballast from between railway ties comprising'a railway vehicle, a power unit mounted on the vehicle, a ballast removing reciprocable auger for entering the space between the ties, a frame for the auger pivoted to the side of the vehicle, means to lower the frame into position to insert the auger be tween the ties and to raise it out of the way, and power transmission means between the power unit and the auger.

4. A machine for removing ballast from between railway ties comprising a railway vehicle, a power unit mounted on the vehicle, a ballast removing reciprocable auger for entering the space between the ties, a frame for the auger pivoted to the side of the vehicle, means to lower the frame into position to insert the auger between the ties and to raise it out of the way, and power transmission means for driving the auger including gears engageable upon lowering the auger frame and disengaged upon raising the auger.

5. A machine for removing ballast from between railway ties comprising a railway vehicle, a power unit mounted on the vehicle, a ballast removing reciprocable auger for entering the space between the ties, a frame for the auger pivoted to the side of thevehicle, means to lower the frame into position to insert the auger be-V tween the ties and to raise it out of the way, a driving gear on the side of the vehicle operatively connected to the power unit, a driven gear mounted on a shaftcarried by the auger frame, a gear slidably mounted on the shaft, a recipro-v cable carriage mounted in the auger frame and supporting the outerV end' ofl the auger, agear on .the end of the auger meshing-with the slidig gear on the shaft, and` means im the carriage for engaging the sliding gear and holding it in mesh with the gear on the auger.

6. A machine for removing ballast from between railway ties comprising a railway vehicle, a. power unit mounted on the Vehicle, a ballast removing reciprocable auger for entering the space between the ties, a frame for the auger pivoted to the side of the vehicle, means to lower the frame into position to insert the auger between the ties and to raise it out of 'the way, a driving gear on the side of the Vehicle operatively connected to the power unit, a driven gear mounted ona shaft carried by the auger frame, a gear slidably mounted on the shaft, a reciprocable carriage mounted in the auger frame and supporting the outer end of the auger, a gear on the end of the auger meshing with the sliding gear on the shaft, means on the carriage for engaging the sliding gear and holding it in mesh with the gear on the auger, and a reciprocable guide for supporting the inner end of the auger.

'7. A machine for removing ballast from between railway ties comprising a railway vehicle, a power unit mounted on the vehicle, a ballast removing reciprocable auger for entering the space between the ties, a frame for the -auger pivoted to the side of the vehicle, means to lower the frame into position to insert the auger between the ties and to raise it out of the way, a driving gear on the side of the vehicle operatively connected to the power unit, a driven gear mounted on a shaft carried by the auger frame, a gear slidably mounted on the shaft, a recipron cable carriage mounted in the auger frame and supporting the outer end of the auger, a gear on the end of the auger meshing with the sliding gear on the shaft, means on the carriage for engaging the sliding gear and holding it in mesh with the gear on the auger, a reciprocable guide for supporting the inner end of the auger, and means to reciprocate the carriage.

8. A machine for removing ballast from between railway ties comprising a railway vehicle,

a gear slidably mounted on the shaft, a recipro-y cable carriage mounted in the auger frame and supporting the outer end of the auger, a gear on the end of the auger meshing with the sliding gear on the shaft, means on the carriage for engaging the sliding gear and holding it in mesh with the gear on the auger, a reciprocable guide for supporting the inner end of the auger, cables attached to the opposite ends of the carriage, a sheave on the end of the auger frame around which one of the cables passes, a double drum Windlass on which the other ends of the cables SMQ@ between me n Ngmber REFER-ENQ@ @TEP The fol-lowing references are of recon@ in the.

le of this patnt:

UNITED STATES Nam@ 

